I heard that when asked who knew what the “Open Web” meant at a past conference, scarce anyone locate their safekeeping up. Those that ofttimes conceive that they do see it, see it at a cord level.

Brad Neuberg has been intellection most this, and wrote the following asking for our input:

What the Heck is the Open Web?

Do you throw the constituent Open Web around? Ever astonishment what the heck it means? Me too.

I’m hunting for a definition of the Open Web that:

  • Isn’t a laundry itemize of missile points
  • Is digit or digit sentences long
  • Doesn’t constrain the scheme from ontogeny in the forthcoming (i.e. that it’s cavernous sufficiency that it’s not meet defending the position quo but crapper alter to newborn innovations)

I’ve got my possess opinions on these but I’m fascinated in chance what you think. Basically, what’s the elevator pitch for the Open Web? Its cushy to speech to the Converted ™, but what most when conversation to another folks that strength not tending as such yet?

You intend incentive points if you crapper respond the following:

  • If Adobe were to unstoppered maker Flex/Flash, or Microsoft Silverlight, would that be the Open Web? If so, why? If not, ground not?
  • Why should developers tending most the Open Web? How most users?
  • How would you delimitate the scheme itself, again in a artefact that doesn’t constrain it from forthcoming ontogeny and utilization (i.e. “It’s a locate to publicize a clump of documents” doesn’t earmark shack for deploying applications, as we are sight with Ajax today).

We throw around the constituent Open Web a bunch, but I’ve never seen it succinctly defined. What is it, and ground do we hold it? I conceive its essential and worth activity but it’s every a taste hirsute correct now.